Bottle Tree
Foothill Palo Verde
Australian Willow
Bradford Flowering Pear
Brisbane Box
American Sweet Gum
Desert Willow
California Sycamore
Holly Oak
Non Fruit-Bearing Olive
African Sumac
Madrone
Orchid Tree
Gold Medallion Tree
Crape Myrtle (very popular)
Aristocrat Flowering Pear
These are all lower water trees that I have used on many of our projects (I do development) that we like. If you need the actual specific names I can provide those as well but this should be a good start for you. My personal favorite is the non-flowering olive tree but that doesn’t go with everything. Some of these trees do flower and drop their leaves but most are fairly easy to maintain. Hope this helps!
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Bradford Pear? Here in the south, they are known for breaking off or snapping over in any kind of high wind. Lots of places used to plant them as a border tree or a liner for a drive or walk. They grow rather fast, but then the first high wind and it’s snappo city.
American Sweet Gum? A nice looking tree but I thought it liked wetter areas. Plus those “balls” are a mess. I realize there are “non-fruit” varities but they are (were) tough to find.
The rest sound like reasonable choices.
I’m surprised no one mentioned a dogwood tree. There are some that can tolerate a lot of sun and they can be ‘managed’ very easily to provide shade and not overpower a house.
* I am not a trained arborist nor do I play one on TV.
